UPDATE: CITGO Comes Through With First Heating Oil Donation

The International Herald Tribune reported today that CITGO has made its first donation of heating oil this season to a shelter in Washington, D.C.

Joseph Kennedy, the head of Citizens Energy, the non-profit organization that manages the program, announced on January 5th that the donations would be suspended until further notice, citing economic concerns brought about by low oil prices.  On January 7th, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez intervened directly to reinstate the program.

Amid the back-and-forth, it was unclear when, if at all, Americans would actually receive the free heating oil.  It appears that is in fact still on, though it remains to be seen if this year’s donations will match previous years in quantity.  The program has been in effect since 2005.